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Al Qaeda Leader Caught

May 4, 2005 Posted by John at 1:05 PM

Abu Farraj al-Libbi, said to be al Qaeda's number three leader and a long-time associate of Osama bin Laden, has been captured in Pakistan, following a firefight near Peshawar. The arrest reportedly took place earlier this week.

President Bush called al-Libbi's apprehension a "critical victory in the war on terror," and praised Pakistan's President Musharraf. Of course, Musharraf had plenty of incentive to go after al-Libbi, who is believed to have masterminded two assassination attempts on Pakistan's President.

Speculation about whether al-Libbi might lead authorities to bin Laden and Zawahiri is inevitable, but fruitless, at this point.